The man challenging anti-cycling trolls to change their ways (Grauniad)

Awavey wrote:

"Many of the most aggressive motorists might have been radicalised online..." Seriously? 🙄

It's a big issue - we often find radical content glorifying speeding (Rallycross, Formula 1) on the devices of these motorists and there are now specialist media channels promoting motoring (like Top Gear).  Children are being fed this narrative at local circuits, some then go on to attend special schools (called "schools") where they're further exposed to the creed of motoring. Often we find young people saving up to attend training in the use of this machinery - or even to buy their own.

Radicalised might be a strong word. However, I think there is a level of social proof that reinforces the perception that appalling driving standards that puts cyclists in danger is not only normal but it's funny. That encourages certain behaviours in a minority of individuals.

This is evident for me in the videos apparently posted by the perpetrators who upload for likes they are confident in receiving.

I wondered about 'radicalised' but perhaps it's not too strong a word. People have their petty prejudices and ill informed hostility to 'others' reinforced, they retweet, repost and so ugly opinions spread. Then the likes of Littlejohn, Parris and shock jocks aplenty abuse their privilege to lay on a veneer of respectability and ramp up the rhetoric...'well, if the Sun/Times/LBC/BBC are sayin 'it, there must be a grain of truth...'.

Over Christmas dinner a few years ago I was shown a hilarious facebook meme by a relative. Robert Downey Junior appearing to be visibly relieved that a deer he'd run over turned out to be 'just a cyclist...' All in the spirit of the season of goodwill to all men (as espoused by M.Parris in his 'new yuletide traditions to adopt'). They were bizarrely aggreived that I was not amused, prompted to reel off the usual bingo, and couldn't (or couldn't be bothered to) see why the idea of me being spread across the tarmac and never  enjoying another christmas with my wife and kids was not humorous, or worthy of banter! I doubt that the post prompted them to drive over the next cyclist they encountered, but I'm sure that the idea of cyclists being somehow unworthy of consideration as human beings, or just a nuisance to be brushed aside was none too subtly reinforced.

 there is a level of social proof that reinforces the perception that appalling driving standards that put cyclists in danger is not only normal but it's funny

Unfortunately, you're describing the police. This perception and consequent belittling of offences against cycling is much more common than the behaviours recently publicised in the Met: having yourself photographed by murder victims, sexist abuse back at the station, raping and murdering people etc.

In the worst cases we see this play out in attacks on our infrastructure by those heedless of their own wellbeing.